Abstract

RASAL SANCHEZ, María et al. Edaphyc characteristics and floristic composition of the seasonally dry forest la menta and timbes, Piura Region, Peru. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2011, vol.10, n.2, pp.61-74. ISSN 1726-2216.

With the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the country’s natural ecosistems, the edaphyc characteristics and the floristic composition of the seasonally dry forest, (La Menta, 04º 43' 55" LS and 80º 04' 55" LO, province of Piura; and Timbes, 04º 44' 58" LS and 80º 03' 33" LO, province of Ayabaca), both in the Piura Region, Peru, were determined. The study area covers an approximate area of 6 000 hectares and has an altitude of 350 to 1 350 m.a.s.l. In each forest 5 transects of 10 x 50 m at intervals of 20 m, were sampled, making a total of 2 500 m². Soil analysis showed low levels in organic matter, nitrogen and potassium and assimilable phosphorus media. These soils have been classified in the Entisols order and Orthents suborder. At La Menta forest 18 species were registered, among trees and shrubs with at breast height diameter s ≥ 1.0 cm, totaling a number of 162 individuals, whilst at Timbes forest 23 species were registered, with a total of 190 individuals. The basal area times total assessed area was 128.86 m² for La Menta, where Loxopterigyum huasango with 45.97 m² was highlighted. For Timbes it was 196.63 m², where Erythrina smithiana with 47.13 m² was highlighted. The importance value index, above a value of 300.0 was 50.0% for Bursera graveolens at La Menta and 62.0% for Cordia lutea at Timbes. The Diversity Index of Shannon-Wiener showed that the La Menta forest was of greater value than the Timbes forest, even though it had the lowest numbers of species and the Matrix of Bray and Curtis Similarity showed that the two forests had a similarity of 54.68%.

Keywords : Seasonally dry forest; floristic diversity; morphometric characteristics; basal area; similarity index.

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